Code 4: Key Player

April 15, 2022 (After the mid-term exam results were released)

Her awareness was still faint as Soo Ji opened her eyes. She had been in this suffocating room for three days, filled with the sharp stench of cigarette smoke. For three days, she had been trying to free her hands, still bound to the back of an old wooden chair. Her head throbbed, accompanied by a dull pain in her temples.

A few boys in school uniforms, whom Soo Ji had noticed from the start, were still around her. Someone entered the room, walking toward Soo Ji, followed by the standing boys who had been guarding her all this time. It seemed that the one approaching Soo Ji was their leader.

"So, this is her?" the leader asked, looking at the others, followed by several people who now surrounded Soo Ji, with the leader facing her. Grabbing Soo Ji's chin, the leader tilted her head up toward him. "Isn't she the most expensive one?"

Soo Ji didn't react. She just furrowed her brows, her mind focused only on how she could break free from the restraints on her hands as quickly as possible.

"When did they arrive?" one of them asked.

"Any minute now. We just need to keep an eye on her until those people arrive," the leader replied, turning his back to Soo Ji.

Soo Ji took a deep breath. Finally, she realized that the ropes binding her were no longer as tight. The opportunity was there, and she had to seize it right now.

However, one of the boys approached, his face filled with a smirk. "Hey, this girl's not scared, huh? She's so calm." He raised his hand and slapped Soo Ji's cheek.

Soo Ji reacted in a flash. She jerked the chair backward, throwing her body to the floor with a loud thud. The loosened ropes gave her enough space to pull one of her hands free.

"What's going on?"

Without wasting any time, Soo Ji grabbed the broken chair leg and swung it at one of the kids' stomachs, sending him reeling back. The other two tried to attack, but Soo Ji was faster. She kicked one of them in the knee, sending him flying, then elbowed the other kid in the face.

But there were too many of them. Someone managed to grab her hair from behind and push her against the wall. Soo Ji's head hit the wall hard. Her vision spun, and a burning sensation spread from her temples.

But she didn't stop. With her remaining strength, she swung her elbow into her opponent's stomach, then used the moment to run to the door. Hands tried to pull her back, but she had already pushed the door open and ran out. 

The dawn air bites Soo Ji's sweaty skin. Her breath was short as she ran through narrow alleys, jumped over fences, and finally reached the main road. She realized that she was near the harbor. Still walking, she looked for a public telephone.

She found it. Right at the end of the street. She found a payphone and immediately went inside. She immediately dialed the number of the person she needed right now. "Oppa." Soo Ji said softly when the phone line was connected.

**

The sky had turned bright when Soo Ji had gotten off right in front of the school gate from the taxi she was riding in. Her body was still sore, the wound on her temple throbbed, the bruises on her arms ached every time she moved, and her clothes were tattered and covered in dried blood and dirt.

Soo Ji walked through the school hallway. The lesson had not started yet. Every step she took felt heavy. Everyone who saw her walking was amazed to see Soo Ji's condition. Some also followed Soo Ji's steps. She had to meet someone. The Student Council President.

Bang!

Soo Ji pushed the door without knocking. Now, she was in front of class 2-1. Everyone in the class was also stunned by her arrival. Soo Ji stepped in until she was right in front of Ye Seong, the Student Council President. Then Soo Ji pointed a razor that she had pocketed after stealing it at the kidnapping site right at Ye Seong's neck who was still sitting. 

Everyone who saw it screamed. "This is all your doing, right?" Soo Ji said with a flat expression but full of anger in her eyes.

Ye Seong, with his glasses, just looked Soo Ji right in the eye.

However, surprisingly, a young detective entered the crowd. Approaching Soo Ji. "Soo Ji, calm down." He tried to prevent what Soo Ji would do next.

The detective tried to grab Soo Ji's arm to move her hand away from the person's neck that was pointing the razor. Luckily, Soo Ji was still able to control her mind and followed the detective even though she was still filled with anger. Then, the detective took Soo Ji out of the crowd and asked her to leave the school first.

On the other hand, Ye Seong, who looked calm, turned out to be very anxious and held his neck. Some of his classmates approached him, asking how he was. He only said that he was fine. However, he was struggling with his thoughts, how could this happen.

**

Back to the present, Jae Hoon was still looking at Soo Ji, who was being squeezed by him. Finally, the security guard who was chasing him was no longer looking for them. Jae Hoon loosened his grip and took a considerable distance from Soo Ji.

"Sorry to involve you, but we should leave immediately before the security guard finds us." Jae Hoon said in the end.

Soo Ji, still looking at Jae Hoon, followed his steps as he started to leave the sports building.

Now, they were outside the school. Fortunately, the gate hadn't been locked by the security guard yet. After they had walked a fair distance away from the school, heading in the same direction, Soo Ji stopped following Jae Hoon.

"What did you do that made you run away?" Finally, Soo Ji asked the question she had been holding back all this time.

Jae Hoon turned around, remaining silent as he thought about what he should say. "Mmm, it's nothing," Jae Hoon replied with a slight grin.

"Well then, see you tomorrow," Jae Hoon said before quickly walking away, leaving Soo Ji standing still, unmoving.

Soo Ji was very curious, but she held back. Not wanting to interfere in anyone's business was her principle. Still, this situation made her feel suspicious and intrigued.

***